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The London Ear // 216 with Strange Fish Theatre Company

On this week’s episode of The London Ear, I was delighted to be able to catch up with Matt and James from the Strange Fish Theatre Company who currently have a production of ‘Quietly’ running as part of the Irish Theatre Season in the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham.

Quietly was written by Owen McCafferty and runs until October 27th.

Matt Dunphy acts in the play, while James O’Donnell is the Director. This is the Strange Fish Theatre Company’s second production at the Omnibus Theatre following last year’s hugely successful The Turn of the Screw.

We chatted via Skype and I should have take more than once screenshot – Matt, I apologise that your eyes are closed.

However, James sent this one over to me. During the course of chat, the chaps explained how the play is an immersive experience for the audience. As the play takes place in a bar, the bar in the Omnibus Theatre is being used as the setting for ‘Quietly’. This mural was commissioned by the theatre group to add an extra dimension to the bar for the duration of the production.

You can find out more about Strange Fish Theatre Company on their website, Facebook and Twitter.

You can find out more about Omnibus Theatre and you can get tickets for ‘Quietly’ here.

Check out this fantastic photo from Stephanie Clare, taken from Facebook.

The London Ear // Show 216 October 13 2018 Playlist

1. Gorillaz: Trans
2. Galants Follow
3. All Tvvins: Hell of a Party
4. Conor Mason: We Watched the sky rotate
5. Sinead Hartnett and JD Reid: System
6. The Late David Turpin feat Jon Dotts: Kalkikrates
7. Bodega: Name Escape
8. Chat with Matt and James from Strange Fish Theatre
9. Pursued by Dogs: Swap Dimensions
10. Baba: Land of the Damned
11. Kojey Radical: Pure

Listen On Demand to The London Ear

Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

Check out The London Ear on Facebook and Twitter

October 15, 2018
Radio Interview // I was featured on Garden of Sound, New Zealand

About a month ago, I got a call from an old friend asking if he could chat to me for his radio show, Garden of Sound on Plains FM in New Zealand.

I worked with the very talented, Ian Turner, for about three years here in London. While I moved on to another position, Ian moved back to his native New Zealand.

I’ll be honest, even though, I present a radio show and I keep a blog, I have never really spoken to anyone at length about how I got into music, working with bands and I guess, the Evolution of Nessy (there ye go! That’s the title for my book).

Of all the people, who could have asked me to do this, I was delighted it was Ian. He’s a good guy, knows his radio, knows his music, has skills (I’ve seen him bowling while doing karaoke) and, being quite honest with you, I trust him.

Ian and his wife Natasha (co-founder of The Nephalist) work to bring alcohol free lifestyle events incorporating music, dance and the arts to New Zealand Both Ian and Natasha are excited about the depth of talent in Canterbury area and Garden of Sound allows them to share this talent, much like how I love to share our Irish talent on The London Ear.

You can find out all about the episode of Garden of Sound here.

I chat about music, Ireland’s showbands, the first gig I went to, working with bands, I give up and coming acts a couple of tips as well as playing songs from Sophie B Hawkins, Garbage, The Beat Poets and a track that will always remind me of the first time I saw George Michael live.

You can also play / download the interview here.

Also.. can someone remind me to update my Twitter bio with whatever Ian said about me in the intro? I sound awesome!! Thanks Buddy! I truly do appreciate your time, I know how much goes into this.

Ian has put together a Spotify playlist of some of the tracks and the artists that I mentioned during our interview. Have a listen and show your support.

You can also find Garden of Sound on Facebook.

October 14, 2018
The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // 215 with Brian Lane from Dissolve

The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // 215 with Brian Lane from Dissolve

Brian Lane is a talented guy. Not only is he releasing his own music, the Manchester based Cork man is also working in the world of film audio.

During our chat, Brian explains about the difference in making music for fun and making music for film. I loved hearing him chat about all the foley artist work. I have to say the Manchester film scene sounds like it’s really exciting! Have a listen!

I also get the chance to play Brian’s new single ‘Optihkal’ and also a track from his band ‘Exit: Pursued by a Bear”.

You can find out more about Brian’s work and have a look and listen at his Dissolve Audio website. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // 215 October 6th 2018 Playlist

1. Pursued by Dogs: Swap Dimensions
2. Little White Things: All Of My Friends
3. Avec: Under Water
4. Galants: Follow
5. Dreaming of Jupiter: Promises (Calvin Harris/Sam Smith cover RTE 2XM session)
6. Chat with Brian Lane from Dissolve
7. Dissolve: Optihkal
8. Chat with Brian Lane from Dissolve (Part 2)
9. Exit: Pursued by a Bear: Pish!
10. Alice Robinson: Rise
11. Sick Love: Are You Ready?

Listen On Demand to The London Ear

Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

Check out The London Ear on Facebook and Twitter

October 8, 2018
The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // 214 with Rónán Hession

The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // 214 with Rónán Hession

I was delighted to be joined by Rónán Hession on today’s episode of The London Ear. As I said during our chat, I think the last time I saw Rónán was at an open mic night in MB Slattery’s in Rathmines, maybe 12/13 years ago.

Rónán is an accomplished musician and under the moniker Mumblin Deaf Ro, released three albums including Dictionary Crimes, which was nominated for the Choice Music Prize in 2012.

Rónán has now turned his hand to writing novels, his first, ‘Leonard and Hungry Paul’ will be published through Bluemoose Books in March 2019.

On October 1st, Rónán will be joining a number of writers in Waterstones, Tottenham Court Road, for an evening of new writing. The evening is presented by the North Fiction Alliance. As with a lot of industries in the UK, book publishing seems to be London centric. This group focuses on how many great little publishers there are outside London, in this case in the North of England. Bluemoose Books, who are publishing Rónán’s novel, are based in Yorkshire.

I’m going to be there on October 1st, hope you join me. You can get your tickets here.

You can find out more about Rónán on Twitter and Facebook.

The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM 214 // Sep 29 2018 Playlist

1. whenyoung: Given Up
2. Petite Noir: Blame Fire
3. AE Mak: Love Flush
4. Craig Armstrong and Guy Garvey: Cornflower (Marbelle)
5. Villagers: Fool
6. Chat with author Rónán Hession Part 1
7. Mumblin Deaf Ro:
8. Chat with author Rónán Hession Part 2
9. Mumblin Deaf Ro:
10. Lana Del Ray: Mariners Apartment Complex
11. Saint Sister: You Don’t Call James Vincent McMorrow Remix
12. Neneh Cherry: Kong

Listen On Demand to The London Ear

Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

Check out The London Ear on Facebook and Twitter

September 29, 2018